Wearable palm protecting band

ABSTRACT

Described is a wearable palm protecting band that encircles the hand to provide protection and grip to the palmer aspect of the hand. The band allows a user to quickly position the band into a “use-position” to provide protection and grip during physical activity and then just as quickly position the band back into a “non-use-position” such as over the wrist. In some embodiments, the band may also double as a sweat absorber (e.g. similar to wrist band) when in the non-use-position. The materials used in the band may not be uniform and different parts of the band may have specific materials for providing grip/protection and sweat absorption.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/641,424 filed on Mar. 12, 2018, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the disclosure relate generally to a wearable band, andmore particularly, a palm protecting wearable band.

BACKGROUND

During various exercises, a person is often required to grab exerciseequipment such as dumbbells and/or a workout machine. To provide gripand to prevent callouses from developing on the hand, workout gloves areoften used. Traditional workout gloves, however, are often cumbersome totake on and off especially during circuit training where there is oftena quick transition between different types of exercises. Moreover, whennot in use, there is usually no convenient way to store the gloves. Forexample, workout attire typically does not include pockets, and evenwhen such pockets exist, workout gloves are typically too bulky to storecomfortably in such pockets during a workout. Moreover, merely placingthe gloves on workout equipment or on the floor is also not suitable asit may pose a safety risk such as interfering with the workout equipmentor presenting a tripping hazard. Accordingly, there is a need to providea more convenient method of providing grip and protection to a handduring workouts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the disclosure are illustrated by way of example and notlimitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which likereferences indicate similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wearable palm protecting bandaccording to some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wearable palm protecting band in ause position according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the wearable palm protecting band in anon-use or storage position according to some embodiments of thedisclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the wearable palm protecting bandincluding a third portion according to some embodiments of thedisclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the wearable palm protecting bandincluding a third and fourth portion according to some embodiments ofthe disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments and aspects of the disclosure will be described withreference to details discussed below, and the accompanying drawings willillustrate the various embodiments. The following description anddrawings are illustrative of the invention and are not to be construedas limiting the invention. Numerous specific details are described toprovide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the presentdisclosure. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventionaldetails are not described in order to provide a concise discussion ofembodiments of the present disclosure.

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment”means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic describedin conjunction with the embodiment can be included in at least oneembodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in oneembodiment” in various places in the specification do not necessarilyall refer to the same embodiment.

In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the disclosure have beendescribed with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. Itwill be evident that various modifications may be made thereto withoutdeparting from the broader spirit and scope of the disclosure as setforth in the following claims. The specification and drawings are,accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than arestrictive sense.

According to some embodiments, described is a wearable palm protectingband that provides protection and grip to a palmer aspect of the hand.The band allows a user to quickly position the band into a“use-position” to provide protection and grip during physical activity,and then just as quickly position the band back into a“non-use-position” such as over the wrist. In some embodiments, the bandmay also double as a sweat absorber (e.g. similar to wrist band) when inthe non-use-position. Accordingly, the wearable band ameliorates theinconvenience of putting on and taking off an entire glove during aworkout as is the case with traditional workout gloves. Thus, aconvenient mechanism to provide protection and grip to a palm of a handis obtained by using the wearable palm protecting band as furtherdescribed herein.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wearable palm protecting bandaccording to some embodiments of the disclosure. As shown, the wearablepalm protecting band (or wearable palm protector) may be in the form ofa band 100. In some embodiments, the band 100 may be a resilient band.As referred to herein, resilient includes allowing the band 100 tostretch (e.g. elastic) to secure the band 100 in various positions onthe user. For example, the band 100 may be resilient to fittinglyencircle a hand of user when in a use-position as well as a portion ofthe arm (e.g. wrist) of a user when in a non-use position. Accordingly,in some embodiments, the band 100 is configured to have a resiliencysuitable for both positions.

In some embodiments, the band 100 may be formed from a first portion 110and a second portion 120. The first and second portions may be composedof any suitable material. For example, the materials for the first orsecond portions may include a fabric (natural or non-natural fabrics)such as cotton, polyester, nylon, spandex, etc., silicon, neoprene,rubber, leather, any other type of suitable material, or a combinationthereof. In some embodiments, portions of the band may include moisturewicking materials. In one embodiment, the first portion 110 may beformed from a first material, which may include a single material or acombination of materials. As further described, the first portion 110may include a gripping or protective surface.

The second portion 120 may be formed from a second material, which mayinclude a single material or a combination of materials. The secondmaterial may be different than the first material. As further described,the second portion 120 may include a moisture absorbing material. Forexample, at least a portion of the band 100 (e.g. first and/or secondportion) may be composed of a resilient material such that the band isstretchable or elastic. As one example, the second portion 120 mayinclude a stretchable material to provide resiliency for the band 100and the first portion 110 may include a gripping material to provideprotection and grip to the palm of the hand. As another example, thefirst portion 110 may include a stretchable material to provideresiliency for the band 100 and the second portion 120 may include anabsorption material to provide a sweating wiping surface. Additionalconfigurations of the band 100 are described further herein.

As shown, the band 100 may include an exterior surface 130 and aninterior surface 140. The exterior surface 130 may include the outsidesurface that comes in contact with, for example, the exercise equipmentand the interior surface 140 may contact the skin of the user. In someembodiments, the inner and exterior surface may include differentmaterials. For example, the interior surface may include a comfortablematerial to the skin (e.g. fleece). In some embodiments, the exteriorsurface 130 and the interior surface 140 of each of the first portion110 and the second portion 120 may be a single (e.g. uniform) material.Alternatively, the first and second portions 110/120 may include variouslayers with different materials. For example, the first and secondportion 110/120 may include one or more base layers and include anadditional layer that provides a gripping or absorption surface asfurther described herein.

In some embodiments, the band 100 may be comprised of materials thatprovide an efficient and low cost means for manufacture. For example, inone embodiment, the first portion 110 may include a single material thatprovides a gripping surface and the second portion 120 may include asingle material that provides absorption properties. Accordingly, insuch an embodiment, the band may be manufactured from only two materialsto provide a low cost of manufacturing.

As described above, the band 100 may be moved between multiplepositions.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show views of the wearable palm protecting band in a useposition 200 and a non-use position 300 according to some embodiments ofthe disclosure. As referred to herein “use” and “non-use” positions areused for simplicity purposes with respect to the band acting as aprotector or gripper (e.g. fingerless workout glove). It should be notedthat in some embodiments the band may also be “used” (e.g. as a sweatabsorber) when in the non-use-position such as over the wrist. Asdescribed, the band (e.g. band 100) may be moved between a use-position200 (e.g. as shown in FIG. 2) and a non-use 300 or storage position(e.g. as shown in FIG. 3). For example, during a workout class (e.g.circuit training), the user may position (or store) the band in thenon-use position 300. Accordingly, when the workout involves an exerciserequiring use of the band (e.g. dumbbell or weight machine circuit) theuser can quickly slide the band (using the opposing hand) over the thumband into the use-position 200. The user may also further position theband by rotating the band such that a gripping surface 112 is positionedover the palm portion of the hand as shown in FIG. 2. Similar, when aparticular exercise is completed, the user may quickly and easily slidethe band back into the non-use position 300. Again, the user may furtherposition the band by rotating the band such that an absorption surface122 is positioned over at least a dorsal portion of the wrist to providea sweat wiping surface for the user as shown in FIG. 3. It should benoted that FIG. 3 shows the non-use position being substantially overthe wrist of the user, but other positions may also be used such as overthe forearm, and above the elbow such as over the bicep or upper arm.Accordingly, the resiliency of the band may be configured to fittinglysecure the band in one or more of such positions.

As described, the band may fittingly encircle a hand or arm of a user.For example, the band may be resilient to fittingly encircle a hand of auser when in a use-position 200 as well as a portion of the arm (e.g.wrist) of a user when in a non-use position 300. Accordingly, in someembodiments, the band is configured to have a resiliency suitable forboth positions. Fittingly encircle may include a certain degree ofresiliency or elasticity such that the band fits securely on the hand(or arm) and is sufficiently tight or snug to hold the band in positionwhen in use (or non-use). For instance, the band may be configured tostay secure when grabbing a dumbbell or other exercise equipment(pull-down bar, pull-up bar, etc.). At the same time, the band mayprovide a certain degree of flexibility such that it may conform andadapt to various movements of the hand such as a gripping or firstposition. In addition, the band may fittingly encircle a portion of anarm (e.g. wrist, forearm, bicep, etc.) when in a non-use position.Accordingly, the band may have also have a resiliency to secure the bandto the arm such that the band may stay relatively snug and not loose.For example, a loose fitting band may interfere with workout movementsor pose a hazard in the event it snags (or catches, hooks, etc.) anunintended apparatus (e.g. exercise equipment). It should be noted thatin some embodiments, the band may be configured to be a one-size fitsall band, or alternatively, the band may be configured to bemanufactured in various sizes (e.g. small, medium, large, etc.). Theband width and thickness may also vary based on the particularconfiguration as described herein.

The band may include one or more specialized surfaces that may be partof, or a layer of, the first or second portions 110/120. In someembodiments, the first portion 110 may include a gripping and/orprotective surface. Such a surface may be composed of any suitablematerial to provide additional friction when gripping an apparatus. Inaddition, the surface or additional layers may provide padding or shockabsorption as well as protection for the palm of the hand. In someembodiments, the first portion 110 may include a single material thatprovides such grip and protection. Accordingly, such embodiments maybenefit from a more efficient and cost effective manufacturing process.In some embodiments, the first portion 110 may include additionalmaterial for a gripping and/or protective surface. For example, thefirst portion may include a leather portion or surface to provide gripand protection.

In some embodiments, the band may include the ability to act as a sweatabsorber (e.g. sweat band). Accordingly, in some embodiments, the secondportion 120 may include an absorption surface to provide a sweat wipingsurface to the user. Such a surface may be composed of any suitablematerial to provide additional absorption properties. For example, theabsorption surface may include any suitable fabric such as cotton (e.g.towel like material), or any other material with additional absorptionproperties. In one embodiment, the absorption surface may be an opposingsurface to the gripping/protective surface. For example, a first side ofthe band may include a gripping/protective material (e.g. to cover apalm of the hand) and a second side of the band may include anabsorption surface (e.g. to cover a dorsal side of the hand).Accordingly, when the band is in a non-use position, for example, overthe wrist, the user may use the band to wipe the sweat off the user'sface (or brow) in a similar manner as with a traditional wrist band. Itshould be noted that the user may also be able to wipe sweat when theband is in a use-position as well. The absorption surface may includeadditional material or layers. In some embodiments, the second portion110 may include a single material that provides such absorptionproperties. Accordingly, such embodiments may benefit from a moreefficient and cost effective manufacturing process. For example, in oneembodiment, the band may be composed of essentially two materials: afirst material for the first portion 110 that provides grip and/orprotection to the palm; and a second, different, material for the secondportion 120 that provides absorption properties.

In some embodiments, the resiliency of the band may be provided by oneor more portions being resilient. For example, the resiliency may beprovided by at least one of a first, second, third, or fourth, or acombination thereof, portions being resilient. In one embodiment, theresilient band may be formed from a first attachment means between afirst end of the first portion and a first end of the second portion,and a second attachment means between a second end of the first portionand a second end of the second portion.

In some embodiments, the band may include additional portions. Forexample, these additional portions may provide the resiliency for theband.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the wearable palm protecting bandincluding a third portion according to some embodiments of thedisclosure. As shown in this embodiment 400, a third portion 140 may beprovided between first ends of the first portion 100 and the secondportion 120. For example, in one embodiment, the band may have a firstportion (e.g. first portion 110), which may include a gripping material(e.g. leather), a second portion (e.g. second portion 120), which mayinclude an absorption material (e.g. cotton), and a third portion 140(e.g. elastic material) between first ends of the first and secondportion. In one embodiment, only the third portion 140 of the band maybe resilient. Accordingly, in such an embodiment, despite the grippingmaterial and absorption material not necessary being elastic, the thirdportion 140 may be an elastic material to provide the resiliency for theband as described above (e.g. to provide the ability for the band tofitting encircle a hand and wrist/arm as described above).

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the wearable palm protecting bandincluding a third and fourth portion according to some embodiments ofthe disclosure. As shown in this embodiment 500, a third portion 140 anda fourth portion 150 may be provided between first and second ends,respectively, of the first portion 110 and the second portion 110. Forexample, in one embodiment, the band may have a first portion (e.g.first portion 110), which may include a gripping material (e.g.leather), a second portion (e.g. second portion 120), which may includean absorption material (e.g. cotton), a third portion 140 between firstends of the first portion 110 and the second portion 120, and a fourthportion 150 between second ends of the first portion 110 and the secondportion 120. In one embodiment, only the third portion 140 and thefourth portion 150 of the band may be resilient. Accordingly, in such anembodiment, despite the gripping material and absorption material notnecessary being elastic, the third portion 140 and the fourth portion150 may be an elastic material to provide the resiliency for the band asdescribed above.

As described above, the band may include multiple portions and theportions may be attached (or joined, secured, affixed, etc.) using anysuitable technique. For example, in one embodiment, the portions may bestitched together using any suitable techniques as known in the art.

In an additional embodiment (not shown), the wearable palm protectingband may also include a mechanism for securing the band when in a useposition (e.g. use position 200). For example, the band may include anopening (or aperture, hole, slit, etc.) to allow the thumb to be placedthrough the wearable band. Such an opening may allow the wearable bandto be correctly positioned within the palm of the hand as well asproperly aligned with respect to the gripping and absorption surfaces.

In an additional embodiment (not shown), the wearable palm protectingband may be comprised of an elastic (or resilient) band that includesone or more of the first portion 110 encircling (or surrounding) theelastic band and/or the second portion 120 encircling (or surrounding)the elastic band. For example, each of the first portion 110 and thesecond portion 120 may wrap around the elastic band via a stitching(e.g. a lengthwise stitching). Such an embodiment may provide an easierform of manufacture by allowing an absorption surface to be of a firstmaterial and a gripping surface to be of the second material.

Accordingly, the embodiments described herein may provide a wearablepalm protecting band that may be efficiently positioned based on aparticular activity performed by a user. In addition, such embodimentsmay be manufactured in an cost effective manner.

It should be noted that the term “approximately” or “substantially” maybe used herein and may be interpreted as “as nearly as practicable,”“within technical limitations,” and the like. In addition, the use ofthe term “or” indicates an inclusive or (e.g. and/or) unless otherwisespecified.

In the foregoing specification, example implementations of thedisclosure have been described. It will be evident that variousmodifications may be made thereto without departing from the broaderspirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims.The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in anillustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A palm protector, comprising: a resilient bandhaving a first portion and a second portion, the resilient band movablebetween a first wearable position that fittingly encircles a wrist of auser, and a second wearable position that fittingly encircles a palm ofa hand of the user; the first portion having a gripping surface on anexterior of the resilient band, the gripping surface positionable overat least a portion the palm and providing protection and grip for thepalm; and the second portion having an absorption surface on theexterior of the resilient band, the absorption surface positionable overat least a dorsal portion of the wrist and providing a sweat wipingsurface for the user.
 2. The palm protector of claim 1, wherein theresilient band is formed from a first attachment means between a firstend of the first portion and a first end of the second portion, and asecond attachment means between a second end of the first portion and asecond end of the second portion.
 3. The palm protector of claim 1,wherein the first and the second attachment means includes stitching. 4.The palm protector of claim 1, wherein the resiliency of the band isprovided by at least one of the first portion and the second portionbeing an elastic material.
 5. The palm protector of claim 1, wherein thefirst portion of the resilient band is formed from a single material. 6.The palm protector of claim 1, wherein the second portion of theresilient band is formed from a single material.
 7. The palm protectorof claim 1, wherein the resilient band further includes a third portionbetween a first end of the first portion and a first end of the secondportion.
 8. The palm protector of claim 7, wherein the resiliency of theband is provided by the third portion being an elastic material.
 9. Thepalm protector of claim 8, wherein the first portion and the secondportion are formed from a substantially inelastic material.
 10. The palmprotector of claim 7, wherein the resilient band further includes aforth portion between a second end of the first portion and a second endof the second portion.
 11. The palm protector of claim 10, wherein theresiliency of the band is provided by one of the third portion and thefourth portion being an elastic material.
 12. The palm protector ofclaim 11, wherein the first portion and the second portion are formedfrom a substantially inelastic material.
 13. The palm protector of claim1, wherein the resilient band further includes a padding layer withinthe first portion.
 14. The palm protector of claim 1, the first portioncomprising at least a base layer and a surface layer, the surface layerproviding the gripping surface on the exterior of the resilient band.15. The palm protector of claim 1, the second portion comprising atleast a base layer and a surface layer, the surface layer providing theabsorption surface on the exterior of the resilient band.
 16. A palmprotector, comprising: a resilient band having a first portion and asecond portion, the resilient band movable between a first wearableposition that fittingly encircles a wrist of a user, and a secondwearable position that fittingly encircles a palm of a hand of the user;the first portion comprising a gripping material, the gripping materialpositionable over at least a portion the palm; and the second portioncomprising an absorption material, the absorption material positionableover at least a dorsal portion of the wrist.
 17. The palm protector ofclaim 16, wherein the resilient band is formed by stitching a first endof the first portion to a first end of the second portion, and a secondend of the first portion to a second end of the second portion.
 18. Thepalm protector of claim 16, wherein the resiliency of the band isprovided by at least one of the first portion and the second portionbeing elastic.
 19. The palm protector of claim 16, wherein the resilientband further includes a third portion between a first end of the firstportion and a first end of the second portion.
 20. The palm protector ofclaim 19, wherein the resiliency of the band is provided by the thirdportion being elastic, and wherein the first portion and the secondportion are substantially inelastic.